CO129-570-10 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese seizure of the S.S. ASIAN- claims 15-2-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 32

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WILLIAMSON & CO.

Hon. The Colonial Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Office, HONG. KONG.

Sir,

P. & 0. Building,

Hong Kong.

7th July, 1938.

32

S.S. "ASIAN"

YOUR REFERENCE 95/1680/310.

In reply to your letter of the 30 th ultimo, we

presume the British Ambassador at Tokyo has a copy of our

letter of the 14th February, 1938, to the Japanese Consul

Géneral, Hongkong, and the documents attached thereto.

If so, these documents supplied full information in

connection with the transfer and registration of the

S.S. "ASIAN".

1.

With reference to the points raised in letter

dated 3rd June, 1938, from H.I.J.M's Minister for

Foreign Affairs to Sir Robert Craigie, K.C.M.G., C.B. -

(There was no certificate of transfer of the

vessel on board). We have to advise that no such

document is issued to a British ship on transfer of

ownership.

Should the transfer of ownership not be

accompanied by change of Flag, the transfer is simply

endorsed on the Ship's Register.

2.

As the vessel was only commissioned on the

6th February, and sailed on the 7th February, 1938, the

vessel's Log Book only commenced on the 6th February.

The old Log Books belonged to the previous owners, and

were removed from the ship by them, when taken over

by